Clutch-pedal controller.



H. REDLICH.

CLUTCH PEDAL CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED AUG.31| 1914.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Witnesses EZEWW mm M.

lnvento Attorney HARRY 'REDLICH, OF JERSEYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

CLUTCH-PEDAL CONTROLLER.

the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to a controller or dash-pot for theclutch pedals of motor vehicles, and aims to provlde a novel andimproved appllance of that character. V

The invention contemplates the provision of a simple and inexpensivecontroller which i y be readily installed in various automobi es, so asto be attached'to the clutch pedal or other movable member of the clutchmechanism, whereby an air cushion will be provided which will preventthe clutch from being thrown in quickly, and to thereby avoid the socalled grabbing usually 1ncident to the quick action of the clutch.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes in the preciseembodiment. of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what: is claimed, without departing from thegspirit of theinvention. 7 The invention has been illustrated in its preferredembodiment in the accompanying drawing,'wherein:. Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the device as applied to a clutch pedal. Fig. 2 is anenlarged horizontal section of the device, taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section of the device, taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1. 1

In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the clutch pedal of anautomobile which works through the floor 2 in the usual manner, theclutch (not shown) being connected to the clutch pedal 1 in such amanner that when the clutch pedal 1 is moved rearwardly under theinfluence ofthe clutch spring (not shown),

the clutch will be thrown in, and when the pedal 1 is pushed forwardlyby the foot of the operator, the clutch will be thrown out ordisengaged.

The present invention aims to provide means for retarding or checkingthe quick return of the clutch pedal .1 after the same Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Application filed August 81, 1914. Serial No. 859,484.

has been pushed forwardly. to release the clutch and to thereby avoidthe grabbing action usually incident to a quick throwing in of theclutch.

In carrying out the present invention, there IS provided an air cylinder3 disposed horizontally and longitudinally below the bottom 20f the carbody, and having a head 4 threaded or otherwise engaged into its rearend. The head 4: is provided with'an upstanding ear 5 which is pivotedo'r ful 4 crumed to a cross bar 6 secured to the sides (not shown) ofthe motor vehicle chassis or frame underneath the floor 2. This enablesthe rear end of the cylinder 3 to be readily pivoted to the frame of themotor car. The

head 4 of the cylinder 3 is also provided with a pet cock 7 which may beopened at any tlme to release'the compressed air therein When thepresent device is to be rendered inoperative.

A head 8 is threaded or otherwise engaged into the forward end of thecylinder 3 and is provided with a vent or opening 8 therethrough 'topermit of the free ingress and egress of a1r, and the piston rod or stem9 is slidable through the head 8 and has a. fork 10 threaded orotherwise secured upon its forward or outer end. The fork 10 straddlesand is pivoted to the shank of the clutch pedal 1, or to any othersuitable movable part of the clutch mechanism, whereby the piston rod 9will'be reciprocated when the clutch mechanism is operated.

The piston head 11 which-works within the cylinder 3 and which isattached to the inner or rear end of the piston rod 9, comprises a pairof opposite leather or similar cups 12 mounted upon a reduced portion 13adjacent the rear end of the piston rod 9. A metallic disk 14 isdisposed between the cups 12 upon the reduced portion 13 of the pistonrod 9, and clamping disks or plates 15 and 16 are mounted upon the saidreilgced portion 13 withinthe respective cups against a shoulder 17provided by the reduced portion, while the rear clamping disk 16 ispreferably-threaded or otherwise secured upon the reduced portion 13 toclamp the cups 12 and spacing disk 14 between the clamping disks 15 and16 to hold the piston head structure firmly upon the piston rod 9.

The piston head 11 is provided with an annular series of ports 18therethrough,

Theforward clamping disk 15 seats and movable snugly upon the stem 19. A

nut or other element22 is threaded or otherwise engaged upon the rear orfree end of the stem 19, and a spiral wire expansion spring 23 isdisposed between the disk valve 20 and nut 22, the large end of thespring 23 hearing against the valve 20 while the small end bears againstthe nut 22. The spring 23 surrounds the conical extension 21' of thevalve 20, whereby the said conical extension 21 will tend to hold thespring 23 in proper operative position. The valve 20 is provided witha'leather, rubber, or other suitable facing 24 seatable against the rearclamping disk 16 to close the rear ends of the ports 18.

In practice, after the device has been properly installed, and the petcock 7 closed,

when the clutch pedal 1 is thrown for-' wardly to release the clutch,the piston rod 9 will be drawn forwardly with the shank of the clutchpedal, and the piston head 11 will consequently move forwardly withinthe cylinder 3. As the piston head 11 moves forwardly, the air inadvance of the piston head 11 will pass through the piston head and intothe chamber in rear of the piston head through the ports 18, the valve20 unseating against the tension of the spring 23. Furthermore, the vent8' permits of the ready passage of air therethrough as the piston headreciprocates within the cylinder, whereby the present device will nothinder or impede the forward movement of the clutch pedal to release theclutch. When the clutch pedal 1 is released, to be returned to normalposition under the influence of the clutch spring, to throw the clutchinto engagement, theair in the cylinder 3 in rear of the piston head 11,will form a cushion, tending to prevent the quick engagement of theclutch, and thereby preventing the so-called grabbing which isdetrimental. Due to the fact that the air in the cylinder 3 behind thepiston head 11 is quite elastic and compressible, the

clutch pedal l-may be returned through a part of its stroke withoutdifliculty, which will avoid the slow or lazy preliminary en'- gagementof the clutch upon the initial movement of the clutch pedal, but thefurther movement of the clutch pedal is retarded or slackened byxthe aircushion as the air is compressed between the piston head 11 and the rearcylinder head 4. In this manner, thrown into engagement, without the.usual jerking action, and with but a slightly greater amount of timebeing consumed during the engagement of the clutch. The valve 20 seatingagainst the disk 16 will close the ports 18 as the piston head movesrearwardly, to thereby avoid the escape of the air from the chamber in'rear of the piston head.

From the foregoing, the advantages and capabilities of the presentappliance will be obvious to those skilled thought, without furtherdeemed necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 4 A dashpot comprising a cylinder; a piston rod working through one end of thecylinder and having a reduced portion providing a shoulder, and a stemprojecting from said reduced portion; a piston working within thecylinder and embodying a pair of-leather cups upon said reduced portion, a disk between the cups, and clamping disks within the cups, oneof the clamping disks seating against said-shoulder and the other beingthreaded upon said reduced portion, the piston having an annular seriesof ports therethrough; a disk valve slidable upon the stem-and having aconical extension projecting away from the piston and movable snuglyupon the stem, said valve in the art, it is comment being being seatableagainst the second mentioned In testimony that I claim the foregoing asmy own, I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

HARRY REDLICIL Witnesses:

H. H. CLAY, GEORGE HOUSE.

